The Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) on Tuesday visited the Abubakar Gumi market in Kaduna to broaden the horizon of traders on the need to keep a cleaner environment.

Ibrahim Rigasa, General Manager KEPA, who led the team on a plastic pick up exercise to mark the world environmental day said the aim was to encourage the traders imbibe the culture of waste management.

Also, Doris Zakama, Programme Manager, Center for Water and Environment Development (CWED), said the organisation was involved in advocacy to promote cleanliness in markets. “Our message to the traders is that keeping their environment clean is a participatory thing, it should not just be left in the hands of government alone. We want them to complement the efforts of government to ensure that they always keep their environment tidy towards a sustainable environment. Our strong message to the traders is that they must desist from the acts of throwing plastics and nylon into the nearby drains and canal within the market environment. By so doing, any form of epidemic outbreak will be forestalled.”

The Chairman of the market, Alhaji Ibrahim Daudawa, expressed joy over the initiative and pledged to mobilise other market leaders to ensure that the market environment was always kept clean.

He also assured that the clean-up of the market would henceforth be a daily routine for all traders. “When the market is constantly kept clean, it helps to prevent the outbreak of epidemic such as cholera, typhoid fever and malaria, and as market leaders, we shall continue to ensure traders keep the market tidy for the benefit and good of all.’’